By
July 1st Shafter's Fifth Corps had moved steadily northwest towards
Santiago, and was poised for what would become the decisive land battle
of the Spanish-American War.

On the morning of July 1st General Shafter sent
his 2nd Division north to attack El Caney, while the remainder of his
Corps attacked the heights overlooking Santiago, two small hills outside
the city of San Juan.

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El Caney

As
General Lawton's troops moved towards El Caney in the pre-dawn hour of
July 1st, their progress was hampered by constant and deadly sniper fire,
enemy soldiers in trenched positions, and fences and
barricades.

The garrison at El Caney was heavily defended by
Spanish soldiers well-entrenched is six heavy timber blockhouses and a
fortified stone church. At 10 A.M. the 17th Infantry was
ordered to attack the high ground, and rushed forward under the command of
Lieutenant Colonel Haskell. Ahead of his men and only four hundred
yards from the Spanish lines, Colonel Haskell fell mortally wounded.
Two officers and five enlisted men from Company C of the 17th Infantry
earned Medals of Honor for their subsequent efforts to recover the body of
their leader.

In other actions that day, two men from Company D,
17th US Infantry also earned Medals of Honor for rescuing wounded
comrades far who had fallen in the front of the lines.